Awka Motorists Lament Extortion by Revenue Touts at Unizik Junction

Residents in Awka have raised fresh complaints over alleged extortion and violence by touts operating around the Unizik temporary site junction on the Enugu route of the federal highway.

People who spoke about the situation said the men present themselves as government revenue agents and demand money from commercial vehicles loading passengers at the junction. The complaints centre on daily collections from bus drivers, rising fares for passengers and repeated intimidation of transport workers.

Findings cited in the report said the practice has lasted for years, with the operators allegedly claiming that authorities are aware of the collections. Motorists and commuters said the activities have become normalised despite the presence of agencies expected to maintain order in the state capital.

Witness accounts said the touts often insert themselves into fare collection, take a percentage and then release the remaining amount to the driver. Drivers who refuse are sometimes confronted, according to the report.

The report also cited cases where side mirrors of buses were damaged during confrontations and where drivers were physically assaulted. One incident highlighted occurred on Friday, February 27, when a GUO driver was allegedly threatened with mob action after picking passengers at Unizik Junction after dropping others.

Other staff of the transport company were said to have intervened and rescued the driver before the situation got worse.

The recurring incidents have raised questions about enforcement by the Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA), Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra (OCHA Brigade) and the Anambra State Special Anti-Touting Squad, known as Ndi-Aka Odo. Critics said these agencies should stop illegal collections and restore order around the junction.

The report further noted congestion and disorder around the pedestrian bridge in the area, where beggars and other street actors have increased pressure on commuters.

Residents are calling for stronger enforcement, a visible security presence and sustained action against anyone posing as a revenue collector. They also want clear public guidance on authorised revenue procedures so that passengers and drivers can identify illegal demands quickly and report them.